Fiction: Dragon King - Part 1

[kethni]

Name: The Dragon King – Part One

Pairing: Multiple! But includes: Matt/Mohinder, Matt/Daphne, Matt/Luke, Matt/Peter, Peter/Adam

Rating: NC-17

Warnings: Explicit sexual scenes, cheesiness, some OOC.

Word Count: This section, 7314

Authors Note: I’ve not read a huge amount of fantasy literature; LOTR, Narnia, Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, and Discworld, but there’s nothing new under the sun so any similarities in the magic systems are purely coincidental.
For dragon6593 who wanted ‘a fantasy story where is a powerful wizard who has to live down his father's reputation as a dark mage. A mage who had enslaved the people he'd sworn to protect. Even though he'd stopped his father's reign of terror by defeating him in a destructive duel of magic; a duel leaving him scarred emotionally and physically. Matt still is eyed with fear and suspicion by other members of his profession and some of the public at large. Inspite of this Matt continues to help people with his magic whenever and where ever he can. Aided by his closest friends who worry that Matt is taking on too much.’



There are as many types of magic practitioners as there are forms of magic. The blood mages who seek power in the sacrifice of life – animal or human; the sorcerers with their magic objects; the wizards who seek the words of creation in arcane tomes, and finally the sex mages who harness sexual energies to perform feats of magic.

All magic, all magic, has this in common: the accessing and releasing of certain existing energy and its transmutation into something else. The mages stand opposed. The blood mages gain power from the destruction of life while the sex mages gain it from the joyful release of sexual energies. Spells themselves are defined by one of the four elements: earth, fire, air, and water, and magic practitioners can be naturally aligned to one or more of the elements increasing their skill with certain types of spells. Sex mages are often aligned to earth; the magic of fertility, justice, hearth, and home, or to fire; the magic of the passions such as rage, jealousy, lust, and love. They deal with the most intimate of concerns and are the most feared by peasants. A blood mage will only torture and kill you and the lord of the manor is as likely to do that, but a sex mage may defile both your body and soul, and you will beg for more.



Peter whistles as he mops the stable floor. He wrinkles his nose slightly at the slightly sour scent of bull semen but continues mopping. When he arrived here to apprentice he expected there would chores but when semen had entered his fevered speculations it had certainly not been bull semen.

‘You seem in a good mood,’ Matt says, on his way to the garden.

‘It’s petition day,’ Peter says, pushing the hair out of his eyes. ‘You said I could help again with some of the simpler spells.’

‘Absolutely, make you sure you have a rest after you finish your chores.’

Peter leans against the handle of the mop. ‘I don’t understand why we keep livestock, Master.’

‘We keep a bull and cows to mate so that we can use the energy for minor spells,’ Matt says. ‘We’ve discussed this, Peter. There will be lots of minor spells that we can use their energy for and larger spells that need human energy.’

‘You’re going to let me do some of those?’

‘If there are any that seem right for you I’ll guide you through them,’ Matt promises. ‘We’re still working on find your alignment. You know if you’re fire and earth then doing a water spell will suck up a lot more energy, more than you’ve got maybe.’

Peter nods thoughtfully. ‘I don’t think I’m a fire,’ he says. ‘So, I understand the cattle. But how come we have chickens?’

‘Because I like poached eggs with mustard, and the extra that we don’t eat I sell for a little silver.’

‘So, nothing to do with magic?’ Peter checks.

‘Nothing at all.’

‘Oh. I keep forgetting not everything is.’



Peter isn’t the most promising apprentice Matt has ever had, he has to admit. The most promising was… well, that all worked out for the best and Matt’s rather proud of successfully training one of the very few sex mages to be aligned to fire and air. Matt learnt quite a few things himself during the time. Some of them pleasant, some of them heart breaking, and all of them necessary. No, it’s unlikely that Peter will be a great mage but if he can stay the course, a large question in Matt’s mind, he will likely make an adequate one. That he has an affinity for sex magic is certain. He can undoubtedly generate copious amounts of sexual energy. Matt looks across at the apple tree in the corner of the garden. When Peter masturbates or couples he attempts to contain the generated energy for spell casting. When he’s unable to contain the energy he releases it into the apple tree so that he practices his focussing and doesn’t simply waste it. When he arrived three months ago the apple tree was a sapling. Now it’s nine feet tall and groaning with apples.

So there’s power in the lad, and a talent for focussing if not yet for containment. There’s a certain inclination towards earth although, as Peter noted himself, not for fire. Matt has successfully transitioned half a dozen apprentices to full mages and knows he has a reasonable feel for alignment. There’s no fire in Peter, and certainly no air either. Air is the magic of the mind not the body, it is for divination and enchantment. A slight affinity for water though, and that can be encouraged. Yes, Matt can feel Peter has sympathy for healing spells, but not for illusions or shape-changing: earth and water then, uncommon but not dangerous and not lacking in value. Many villages would welcome a mage who is talented at crops, cattle, and healing. When he’s better trained Matt might have Peter do something about his scars.

Matt finishes his contemplations in the garden and returns to the house to make himself ready. Petition day. Matt dislikes the name. He was trained to see his skills as a duty to the community not as a boon to be bestowed. The price of being able to perform magic is having to perform magic for those legitimately in need of it. Matt stares at himself in the mirror. The price for being able to defend his people is having to defend them. The livid scars across Matt’s forehead and right cheek are badges of his willingness to do that.

Regardless of his dislike of his name, Petition Day used to be a day to be looked forward to; people seeking lost things, couples trying to conceive, and farmers wishing for good harvests were frequent. Recently though his petitioners have been desperate and often terrified. Matt never wanted that. Matt dresses, not in his best robes, but in a set of clean unprepossessing ones. Even then he wonders if they are too new or too clean. While his fellow practitioners strive to be feared and respected, Matt only wants to be part of the community.

When Matt goes downstairs he finds that Peter has gone to prepare for the petitions. That’s something at least. As much as a young man wearing only leather shorts would inspire sexual energy in the room, it would also prove distracting.

‘Shall I put the big chair in the receiving room?’ Peter asks from behind him, having changed into his white apprentice’s robes. When one is apprenticed to a sex mage white is a far more practical colour for hiding stains.

‘No, thank you, Peter. I’ll see people in here.’

‘In the kitchen?’

‘Villagers here live in their kitchens. It’ll be less imposing. Do you have the bread that you made yesterday?’

Peter pads across to the cold store. ‘Yes Master, do you think they’ll eat it?’

‘Probably not, but it’s there if they want,’ Mat says wryly. ‘People are too frightened of me, Peter. Respect is always good but fear always leads to hate, and then we end up with magic practitioners burning at the stake.’

Peter shivers as he puts out the pan of bread. ‘You could see that.’

‘There’s a lot more of them and I have to sleep. Besides it shouldn’t come to that. A mage should serve, not rule.’

Unbidden, Peter prepares coffee, wine, and beer for the petitioners. Matt smiles at this sign of Peter finally exercising independent thought.

‘My mother thinks that a mage should rule,’ Peter says, rolling his eyes.

‘So did my father.’

Peter smiles. It’s one of the reasons Peter approached Matt to take him on as an apprentice and one of the reasons that Matt agreed to take him on.

‘Those with power have to care for the powerless,’ Matt says. ‘Not because they’re better than powerful people but because they’re powerless. We leave the examination of men’s souls to religions and the judgement of crimes to the lord and the courts. Our power has limits.’

‘Unless we’re evil,’ Peter says cheerfully.

‘I’ve not had an apprentice choose the path of evil yet. If you’re the first I’ll give you such a spank you won’t sit down for a week.’

Peter automatically rubs his bottom. In truth Matt is not given to violent discipline but Peter knows, by reputation at least, of what he’s capable of when roused.

‘I’ll resolve to be good then, Master,’ he says.

‘Good,’ Matt says, and smiles.

The apple tree in the corner of the garden creaks ominously and drops a litter of ripe apples.

‘Apple pie tonight,’ Peter says sheepishly.

‘We need to work on your containing. You shouldn’t still have to discard so much energy that we’re knee deep in apples.’

‘Yes, Master. Sorry Master.’



Element One – Earth


The first petitioner is a young, brown-eyed, woman from another village. At least Peter believes that’s she young judging by her gait. She’s shrouded in a robe and veil that only shows her wide eyes. Her eyes smile as she politely demurs the victuals that Peter offers.

‘Peter, close the door,’ Matt suggests. ‘I believe our guest wishes some privacy.’

‘Thank you, Sir,’ she says, crossing her legs at the knee. ‘I wish to petition for your assistance.’

Matt knits his fingers together. ‘What is your petition?’

‘I wish to ensure that I do not become pregnant.’

‘The wise women in your village have many potions and pessaries for that,’ Matt says mildly.

She shakes her head. ‘They say that they will not be successful for me. Medicines never work for me.’

Matt turns his hands palm up and a spark of silver flame jumps from one hand to the other. ‘Sky spells often have unexpected consequences.’

Peter opens his mouth and then closes it again.

‘Was that divination?’ she asks curiously. ‘I’ve never seen it before.’

‘It’s a form of it, Mistress Millbrook, so you were born under inauspicious stars and your parents had a sorcerer enchant you?’ Matt asks.

Mistress Millbrook nods. ‘Yes, my parents were told that if I had children the taint would pass to them.’ Her eyes smile sadly. ‘I am told it would be impossible to enchant them in the same way.’

‘Children born into magic are often immune to it,’ Peter says helpfully.

‘I have no desire to foreswear men,’ she says frankly. ‘So I seek your help.’

Matt interlaces his fingers. ‘There is a way but it is not the magical equivalent of a pessary.’

‘What is it?’

‘It is rarely done now. Most religions forbid it,’ Matt says carefully.

Mistress Millbrook leans forward. ‘Mage, your delicacy is kind but I would prefer the answer to my question.’

‘If you were to become the handmaid of a sex mage then when you coupled the life force that would pass into you and create a child would be sacrificed to the mage. There would be no spark to allow the seed to impregnate you,’ Matt explains.

She uncrosses her legs. ‘Would I not be constrained from coupling freely with whom I chose?’

‘Not at all, Mistress Millbrook, mages believe that the corporeal urges are part of the natural order. Handmaids and consorts, young men who were sworn to a sex mage, were expected to live by their natural lights.’ Matt spreads his hands. ‘Priests teach the evil of natural acts. Mages teach their veneration.’

Mistress Millbrook considers for a moment. ‘When I coupled you would know it?’

‘I would be aware that the energy had entered me,’ Matt concedes. ‘But nothing else, my apprentice here devotes much time to coupling and other natural sexual acts, and I would not be capable of distinguishing your energy from his.’

She looks at Peter and giggles. ‘Do you always have an apprentice?’

‘There are always young men and women seeking training.’

She looks down at her hands. ‘It would ensure I would remain childless?’

‘Yes.’

‘Is it permanent? How does it work?’ she asks, looking for the flaw.

Matt gestures at Peter to serve them coffee. ‘It would last as long as you remain handmaid to a living mage. In event of death you could swear to another mage. You simply take the oath, accept some token such as a pendant or ring, and seal the commitment by coupling.’

Mistress Millbrook pushes down the hood of her robe and removes her veil. She lifts up her cup and takes a sip of her coffee. ‘So if I give my maidenhood to you I’ll become a handmaid and there’s no possibility of my ever falling with child?’

‘With any sex mage, Mistress Millbrook,’ Matt says with only a tinge of reproof. ‘There are others.’

Her nose crinkles slightly as she smiles. ‘I have no doubt. I meant no offense, Sir, and see no reason to swear to another mage. But, I have been told certain rituals have to be observed? When could we proceed?’

‘It is a very simple earth spell,’ Matt says. ‘That does mean the coupling must be done in the Sign of The Bull and outside on the ground. Then it is accomplished. You need never come here again.’

Mistress Millbrook looks out of the window. ‘The weather is fine. Shall we do it now before your other petitioners arrive?’

‘Peter, run to the silversmith’s and purchase some small piece of jewellery that Mistress Millbrook will not be embarrassed to wear,’ Matt says. He stands up and holds his hand out to Mistress Millbrook. ‘There are willow trees behind the house that block anyone from seeing into the garden. Would be acceptable?’

‘I think so,’ she says, taking his hand and standing up.



They walk under the drowsy branches of the willows with the sunlight filtering through the delicate leaves.

‘You’ve travelled a long way,’ Matt says.

She bites her lower lip. ‘You’re reputed to be very powerful,’ she says carefully.

Matt stoops to brush fallen branches away from the small, sand filled pit that they use for the earth rituals. ‘You wore a veil Mistress Millbrook; I thought perhaps that travelling so far might be another way of protecting your identity.’

‘Would you be willing to do this if you knew what I looked like without the enchantment?’ she asks flatly.

‘I do know.’ Matt takes off his robe and stands naked in the sunlight. ‘I see that you don’t. You’re no charmed monster, Mistress Millbrook. Your legs are weak and your back is twisted. The enchantment covers that but more it prevents you from feeling the enduring, continual pain.’ He unlaces her robe. ‘Your parents had you enchanted to stop you feeling pain. What parents would do otherwise?’

Mistress Millbrook undresses. ‘I understand that but my friends and neighbours might not. They are happy with fertility spells and love potions but enchantments make them very uneasy.’

Matt laughs at that. ‘I prefer enchantment to love potions.’ He rests his hand on her waist and pulls her closer. ‘Love potions are more honest but they’re a great deal crueller.’

‘Do you often couple out here?’ she asks runs her fingers through his hair.

‘Quite often, if I have earth spells to perform with someone who is… uneasy being in the open.’

Mistress Millbrook giggles. ‘I suppose I were not uneasy we would be in the field where anyone could observe us?’

‘Yes,’ Matt says, smiling. ‘If I were not comfortable naked or coupling I would be a poor sex mage.’

Mistress Millbrook allows him to lead her gently to the pit where he lowers her down. She moves onto all fours and her blond hair tumbles over her shoulders.

‘Are you comfortable?’ Matt asks, resting his hands gently on buttocks with the callouses of his hands just grazing her delicate skin.

‘Comfortable enough, Sir,’ she says, smiling at him over her shoulder.

‘Do you swear the fruit of your passion and the heat of your body to me?’

‘I do.’

‘Then we begin,’ Matt says, and tenderly bites her waist.



Element Two – Water


‘Master,’ Peter asks, as he kneels to wash and dry Matt’s genitals, ‘what is a sky spell?’

‘A very rare thing, a spell that combines all the elements,’ Matt says, running his fingers through his hair. ‘Mistress Millbrook’s parents must have made a considerable sacrifice to have had it performed.’

‘What is its animal?’ Peter asks, looking up at him.

‘The Dragon King, it masters all the other elements.’ Matt hesitates and then smiles. ‘One of my first apprentices has performed several. He is uncommonly skilled.’



The next petitioner is a villager that both Matt and Peter recognise. A heavy man with bulging eyes and wobbling jowls he is breathing through his mouth as he stumps into the kitchen.

‘That bread for petitioners?’ he asks, one meaty hand, hovering over the pan.

‘Yes, Peter, please cut a piece,’ Matt says. ‘Please take a seat Farmer Doyle. A drink?’

‘Beer,’ he grunts. He shifts uncomfortably in his seat. ‘Got no bigger chairs?’

Peter smothers a snigger as he puts down a flagon of beer for Doyle and a cup of water for Matt.

‘Sadly not.’

‘I don’t like being here,’ Doyle says. ‘I know how you do magic and I’m not having any of that. You and your lad will have to find someone else to exercise your filthy lusts on.’

Peter drops a plate. ‘Pardon!’ he says in a muffled voice, and flees the room.

Matt stares down at his hands. ‘What exactly is your problem?’ he asks meekly.

‘Bullocks.’ Doyle slurps the beer and slams the flagon down on the table. ‘The damn things are diseased which is bad enough but now they’ve spread it to the milkers. They’re not milking.’ He leans forward. ‘I don’t come to you people. I’ve heard what happened with the blood mage in Hartwood. Enslaving the whole town and having the old and the sick murdered so feed his own power. I hear things.’

Matt finds himself rubbing the scar on his forehead. ‘Did you hear who it was that stopped him?’

Doyle slams his hand palm down on the table. ‘Will you do something about my cows? I need my cows. I have the biggest dairy farm in the district and no milk!’

Matt holds up his hand. ‘Yes, Mr Doyle, we’ll cast a healing spell on your cattle.’

Doyle stuffs bread into his mouth and masticates thoroughly before speaking. ‘And I won’t have to couple with either of you?’

‘No,’ Matt says mildly. ‘We will be able to cast the spell without that.’

‘Alright then,’ Doyle says, dragging himself to his feet. ‘I suppose I’ll have to give you something in payment?’

‘A healthy young bull would be gratefully received,’ Matt says. ‘A male calf if a young bull is not possible.’

‘You make sure my milkers are cured first!’



‘That was not the behaviour I expect from you, Peter.’

Peter looks up and reddens. ‘I’m sorry, Master. I know we have a sacred calling and that coupling for a spell is part of our calling and not dependent on our preferences.’

Matt sits next to him and puts his hand on Peter’s shoulder. ‘That is the ideal. You have to balance that with the practicality that there will be times when you do not wish to couple and people with whom you do not wish to couple. That is unavoidable. That’s one reason we contain sexual energy from the cattle and from our sexual acts so that we have options. But allowing a petitioner to know that we disdain the idea of coupling with them is never acceptable.’

Peter nods and sits up straighter. ‘Yes, Master. I understand.’

Matt squeezes his shoulder. ‘You wanted to perform a spell. I think you may have a talent for healing. Shall we see?’

‘A water spell?’ Peter asks, perking up.

‘Yes, it’s a warm day so we can go out into the river and perform it there.’ Matt stands up. ‘Farmer Doyle’s cattle are sick. I’ll go over the incantations with you and use a small divination spell to show you them so you can focus on them.’

‘I won’t let you down,’ Peter says proudly.

‘I know that you won’t.’



Peter feels himself reddening again as a pair of maids point and giggle as they walk past.

‘The only reason they’re laughing is because they’re embarrassed,’ Matt says gently. ‘They’ve been brought up to find their own bodies and natural desires shameful. You don’t feel that way do you?’

Peter considers this as they reach the bank of the river. ‘Not often, Master. But when people laugh… it makes me uneasy.’

Matt puts his hand on Peter’s shoulder. ‘That’s natural. But they see you, confident and comfortable with your body and sexual nature, and they feel uneasy. Their insecurity controls them but it doesn’t have to control you.’ Matt squeezes Peter’s shoulder. ‘You’re a man. They’re children.’

Peter blushes again. ‘Thank you, Master.’ He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. ‘I have some anxiety about the spell.’

‘I’m here with you. You have focussed on the cattle. We go into the water and couple in the Sign of The Otter. I chant the healing ritual and when you feel that the power has built you cast it into the cattle.’ Matt pats Peter’s shoulder and drops his hand. ‘I think you have some alignment for water spells so a healing spell should flow more naturally for you.’

Peter nods. ‘Yes Master. I think I’m ready.’

‘Take your time. There’s no need to rush,’ Matt says as he starts to undress. ‘If you feel things are slipping away stop, don’t chase after them. Stop and collect yourself. You have as much time as you need.’

Peter peels off his clothing and stretches in the sunlight. ‘I have as much time as I need.’

Matt smiles and takes the step that Peter has been carrying. He wades into the river, pushing the step along the riverbed, until the water is eddying about his chest. He kicks pebbles around the bottom of the step and then smiles at Peter. ‘It’s not too brisk.’

Peter hops into the water and squeaks. ‘It’s cold!’ He paddles over to Matt, splashing water in all directions, and climbs up onto the step. ‘What do I do now?’ he asks sheepishly.

Matt turns his back to Peter. ‘You hold me securely,’ he says looking back over his shoulder. ‘You don’t want me escaping from you.’

Peter wraps his arms around Matt’s chest. ‘I don’t think I could stop you if you truly wanted to get away.’

Matt smiles and lowers his voice to a soft murmur. ‘You have to take charge,’ he says. ‘In a moment, when you’re ready, you’ll bite my shoulders and my neck to demonstrate how strong you are. But for now close your eyes. Close your eyes and feel the water as it swirls about us. Feel the softness of it. Feel the strength of it. A river can rub away a rock face. Feel the suppleness of it. Feel it on your skin, over your muscles, feel it caressing every hair on your body. You have water in you. Calm, lucid, and still. Feel the water. Know that it is part of you and you are part of it.’ Matt pauses to listens to Peter’s breathing. He can feel the heavy weight of Peter’s erect cock resting against his ass. He strokes Peter’s hands with his fingers. ‘Lower your head to my shoulder. Taste the salt of my skin.’

Peter sucks Matt’s shoulder and his teeth graze the skin.

‘Now you claim me,’ Matt murmurs. ‘A bite to show it, or two. Mmm.’ Matt tips his head back as Peter bites, first gently and then more passionately. ‘You are water and I am earth. Rain upon me. Pour your water into me.’

Peter bites his lip as he adjusts himself, and then thrusts. His arms tighten around Matt as he finds his pace.

The water swirls around them and tiny waves wash towards the bank. Small twigs whirl scooping up fallen leaves and fragments of feather. Fish dart through the water; silver, blue, red, and green, some giving wide birth while others nuzzle close. Surrounded by life and water, Peter feels himself filling with power. He hears for the first time Matt chanting soft words and feels the path the power must take.

Matt feels Peter’s hands slip from him as he falls back into the water. Peter is floating face up with his arms lightly at his sides. Matt watches for a moment then wades out of the water with the step.

‘Peter?’ he calls.

‘I’m floating.’

‘I can see that,’ Matt laughs as he shakes himself dry.

Peter stands up and runs his fingers through his hair. ‘Did we cast the spell?’

‘You did,’ Matt says. ‘It was powerful but controlled. You have a real flair for healing magic.’

Peter grins brightly. ‘I never had a real flair for anything before.’

‘Later on I’ll do a brief casting and we can ensure that the cattle are healing.’

Peter comes tramping out of the river with water cascading down his skin. ‘I normally mess things up.’

‘I’ve found you very capable.’

‘Thanks!’



‘There’s a carriage outside,’ Peter calls.

Matt looks up from the book he’s struggling to read and looks out of the window. ‘Is it your brother?’

‘Oh, yeah,’ Peter says, sounding unsure if that’s a good thing or not.

Matt stands up and walks to the door. ‘You could do with neatening your hair.’

‘Nathan won’t look at my hair,’ Peter says, smoothing it down with his palm.

‘Yes he will,’ Matt laughs.

Someone raps sharply on the door.

‘You’re not going to receive him in the kitchen?’ Peter asks.

‘No, bring him in through to the receiving room,’ Matt says, patting him on the back. ‘I won’t embarrass you.’

‘Thank you, Master.’



‘Would you take some coffee with me before you see Peter?’ Matt asks.

‘I will, although I’m not actually here to see him so much as I’m here to see you,’ Nathan says, sitting down.

‘Oh?’ Matt asks warily as he pours the coffee.

‘How’s everything going since… everything?’

Matt sits down opposite him. ‘That’s not your usual level of eloquence. Everything is going well. Peter is quite promising.’

‘That isn’t quite what I meant.’

‘Oh, what did you mean?’

Nathan takes a sip of coffee and changes tack. ‘I hope I didn’t interrupt an important orgy.’

‘All my orgies are important but Peter can keep them all amused for a while,’ Matt says deadpan.

Nathan narrows his eyes. ‘My apprentice has been practising her scrying. She says there’s been a lot of magical emanations from here.’

‘We’re fulfilling petitions today,’ Matt says with a shrug.

‘There was one on my way over; I felt it in the carriage.’

‘That was Peter casting a healing spell,’ Matt says with a smile. ‘He cured over two hundred head of cattle of infectious blacktongue.’

‘You let Peter cast a spell?’ Nathan asks, appalled.

‘I’m a mage. He’s my apprentice. What did you think we were going to do?’

Nathan raises his eyebrows. ‘Not actual casting. Peter’s a flake, Matt, it’s dangerous to give him too much encouragement.’

‘He has a natural gift. Would you rather he wander around accidentally releasing magic randomly?’

‘He’s been doing that all ready. There have been releases of magic here every day for the past week.’ Nathan’s jaw tightens. ‘Unless that was you?’

Matt sighs. ‘He’s practicing containment. He’s finding it pretty difficult but that’s partly his age.’

‘He’s practicing every day?’

‘He’s a young man and he’s got a strong drive.’

Nathan rubs his forehead. ‘He’s been blasting the countryside every day because he’s horny, is that what you’re saying?’

‘He’s not “blasting” anything; if he loses containment he releases it harmlessly into the garden.’

‘I’m not a prude but…’

‘Yes you are,’ Matt interjects. ‘You’re chronically unfaithful but that’s a completely different thing. I’m a sex mage and he’s a healthy young man training to become a sex mage. It’s perfectly normal.’

‘My Ma throws a fit every time someone asks what branch of magic he’s studying,’ Nathan says with a grin.

‘What does she say?’

‘She’s tells them he’s studying with the mage who defeated the Hartwood Blood Mage and while they’re all impressed she changes the subject,’ Nathan says. ‘She considers discussions of any kind of bodily function to be terribly crass. How Peter ended with any kind of ability for sex magic is a mystery.’

Matt takes a sip of his coffee. ‘It’s not that surprising. Suppressing sexual urges is like trying to hide a dragon under a sheet; it doesn’t work and you end up with all sort of strange things bulging out at odd angles.’

‘There’s an image,’ Nathan says dryly. ‘Have you found his alignment?’

‘Mostly earth but water too.’

Nathan raises his eyebrows. ‘Hence the healing spell. Makes sense. How did it go?’

‘Very well, the cows were a little… anxious to be milked but the farmer was happy. He sent over two bull calves and an attractive slave girl.’

‘To keep?’

‘Only the bull calves, the girl just left.’

‘Even so, good for Peter.’ Nathan sips his coffee. ‘You look tired.’

‘It’s petition day, we start early and sometimes we don’t stop until the following morning.’

‘You’re sure you’re not taking on too much?’

‘Do you care?’ Matt asks frankly.

‘For a given value of “care”, yes,’ Nathan says with a grin.

‘That’s honest at least.’

Nathan shrugs. ‘After what happened in Hartwood with your dad nobody wants you to feel pressured.’

‘What, like father like son? You’ve got a damn nerve, Nathan.’

‘Whoa!’ Nathan puts his hands up. ‘I hope you know be better than that, Matt. Nobody thinks you’re about to start enslaving the populace and sacrificing babies. You look tired. You haven’t had a break and you’re still healing. Look at your face, man. You couldn’t have got someone to look at those scars for you? DL does beautiful healing spells for scars I believe.’

‘It’s nothing, maybe when Peter’s trained up I’ll ask him to look at it.’

‘You’d trust Peter with your face?’

‘I can hardly ask other people to accept him as a mage if I don’t trust him myself,’ Matt retorts. ‘You agreed to my apprenticing him. What did you think he was going to be doing?’

Nathan grins. ‘Honestly, I thought he’d be cleaning the cowshed for a few weeks and then he’d get bored and run off.’

‘He does clean out the cowshed,’ Matt says, ‘along with the other chores. But he’s here to learn spellcraft as well.’

‘Maybe a more advanced apprentice could help you out for a few weeks,’ Nathan suggests. ‘Just wait until you’re back on your feet.’

Matt rubs his forehead, absently feeling the contours of the scar. In places it is ragged and delicate while in other places it is thick and fibrous. It’s still a livid purple and without intervention it’ll be a long time before it fades.

‘I don’t need any help, Nathan.’

‘You look like warmed up goat entrails and you know it.’

Matt folds his arms across his chest. ‘This must be famous Petrelli charm.’

‘Charm is for villagers and attractive adventurers you want to bed. I respect you too much for that.’

Matt snorts. ‘Forgive me for not realising that being told I look like “warmed up goat entrails” was a sign of respect.’

‘It is and you do. People are worried about you, Matt.’

Matt raises his eyebrows. ‘Which people would these be, the ones who looked the other way when my father was terrorising half the countryside, or the ones who refused to help stop him?’

‘How about the ones who left their territories to throw their lot in with you, you ungrateful asshole,’ Nathan growls. ‘That you were the strongest one there doesn’t mean we didn’t fight.’

‘I didn’t mean it like that.’

‘Sure you did, you’re just feeling like an ass about it.’

Matt sighs and rubs his forehead. ‘Yeah, I guess. What do you expect though coming here and badgering me about I need help, I look terrible, and I’m not coping?’

‘Badgering? You’re getting spoiled Matt if people worrying about you is your main cause of stress.’

‘Who’s worrying about me?’ Matt asks. ‘You? I don’t think so.’

‘As much as I worry about anyone,’ Nathan admits. ‘But you know I’m not talking about myself.’

‘Who’re we talking about?’

‘You know full damn well who,’ Nathan snorts. ‘And you know I’m right.’

Matt sighs. ‘I suppose you’re here out of the goodness of your heart?’

‘If you ever find it feel free to see for yourself. Now I should probably talk to Pete, before he starts worrying.’



Element Three – Fire

The teenager sits right at the back if the chair and pulls his feet up onto the seat. He’s small for his age with an oddly rubbery face and large, dark eyes. He chews his thumbnail as he looks at Matt from under his eyelashes.

‘Would you like something to eat?’ Matt suggests. ‘Perhaps a drink of beer?’

‘Beer, thanks.’

He wraps both hands around the tankard to sip the beer and watches Matt over the top of it.

‘Do you have a petition?’

‘Can’t you just… know?’ the boy asks.

‘You wouldn’t want me to do that. I might find out all kinds of things that’re private. It’s better if you tell me,’ Matt says nicely. ‘How about your name at least?’

‘Luke Campbell.’

Matt’s memory throws up a card. ‘Your mother is a tenant of the Linderman family?’

‘Yeah, yes, I mean. Yes. We’ve got a wizard in the village, called Bennet? I spoke to him but he said I needed to talk to a sex… ugh to a sex mage,’ Luke says, stumbling each time over the word “sex”.

Matt nods encouragingly. ‘I know of him, he’s particularly gifted with illusions. Is your petition related to… human relations?’

Luke nods and gulps at the beer.

‘Are you in love?’ Matt asks gently. ‘There are better ways than love potions.’

‘You don’t do love potions,’ Luke scoffs. ‘Everyone knows good mages don’t do those.’ He swirls the dregs of beer around the tankard. ‘It’s the other thing. Not love. Not yet. You know. The other thing you’re good at.’

Matt privately hopes that there are a number of things that he’s good at. However there are two things that sex mages are stereotypically known for, and if it isn’t love…

‘You’re here for a petition regarding your carnal desires?’

‘Sex,’ Luke says, and blushes. ‘I don’t mean I’m here after sex! I mean… I know sometimes that’s part of… but that’s not exactly… it’s about my nature. Sexual nature. Um.’

‘You’re not sure about your sexual nature?’ Matt asks, thinking that means he is sure, but having trouble dealing with it.

‘Yeah I… I guess yeah.’ Luke puts down the tankard and picks at his boot. ‘We’re Cathan so, I mean, it’s not against my faith or nothing but… I mean… It’s not what people expect. I had this idea in my head of what my life was going to be like. Like, wife, and kids, and maybe some dogs. This picture in my head and I just figured that’s what my life was going to be.’

‘You can still share your life with someone,’ Matt says gently.

‘What if I’m wrong?’ Luke asks wretchedly. ‘I could be wrong. I don’t… I don’t know. I need to know.’

‘I can help you be sure,’ Matt says carefully, ‘if that’s what you want. But you’re young and you have plenty of time to explore.’

‘I gotta be sure,’ Luke says quietly. ‘So, can you… can you help me?’

‘I can do a spell of revealing,’ Matt says, ‘but because of the nature of your petition you would have to be intimately involved.’

Luke smirks. ‘You mean I gotta have sex with you?’

‘Or my apprentice.’ Matt turns and calls for Peter.

‘You called, Master?’ Peter asks.

‘This is my apprentice, Peter. He can take you through the ritual.’

Luke looks Peter over and then looks back at Matt. ‘Nah. I’d rather have you.’

Matt looks out of the window and sees that the sun is just beginning to wane. ‘We can perform the ritual now if you’re amenable.’

Luke drags himself to his feet. ‘Yeah. Yeah now I got my nerve up and all.’

‘Peter, please have the meal ready for an hour from now,’ Matt says, squeezing his forearm.

‘You don’t want me to set up the cave?’

‘No, I’ll do it. I’m starving for a good meal,’ he whispers.



‘So magic is all done by elements?’ Luke asks as he skips alongside Matt on the way to the cave at the edge of the property.

‘Yes, depending on the kind of spell it is. This is a fire spell.’

‘Why?’

Matt pauses for a moment. ‘Because it’s a question of passion and desire. Fire is the element of passion, whether the passion is lust, love, jealousy, rage or anything else.’

Luke tucks his hands into his tunic trousers. ‘I thought earth was the element for sex.’

‘It’s the element for fertility,’ Matt says. ‘But sex is more complicated than that. It can be any of the elements.’

‘I didn’t know that. I don’t know much about magic. Our mage Bennet… he’s not… I couldn’t ask him things.’

‘Is magic something that you’re interested in?’

Luke lowers his eyes. ‘Oh you know. I guess.’ He looks up as they reach the mouth of the cave. ‘There’s a fire in there?’

‘There will be soon.’

Luke follows him into the cave and watches as he lights a torch on the wall with a snap of his fingers. ‘I guess it would be stupid to guess that’s a fire spell?’

Matt smiles at him. ‘It’s fire. Sometimes it’s no more complicated than that.’ The torches light one by one as if the flame is leaping along invisibility. After a moment there is a whoomph and then a channel running around the interior of the cave fills with fire.

Luke edges closer and sees that it is filled with wooden chunks on top of fine coals. In the roof of the cave above the channel are a series of vents drawing away smoke from the interior of the cave. As he steps into the cave proper he realises that it widens out considerably and that there is soft sand piled up all over the floor. At the back of the cave there is a pallet made up into a bed.

‘You come in here a lot?’ he asks, smiling slyly at Matt.

‘Fire magic isn’t uncommon,’ Matt says, rolling his eyes. ‘Today’s petition day so Peter changed the bedding.’

‘Oh is that what it is?’

Matt strips naked and carefully places his clothing in an alcove away from the flames. ‘I have nothing to hide, Luke,’ he says, holding out his arms. ‘If I want to have sex then I have sex. No excuses and no recriminations.’

Luke’s eyes widen and slide up and down Matt’s body. ‘So, uh, how… how do we um… I haven’t… I mean…’

‘It’s Sign of the Snake.’ Matt gestures at Luke to walk over to the centre of the room. ‘First we have to establish dominance.’

‘You’re twice my size!’

‘You don’t have to pin me,’ Matt promises. ‘You just have to hold up your kerchief for three seconds.’

‘Wrestling then? You’re naked.’

‘It’s naked wrestling.’

Luke smiles again. ‘Oh. I get it. Then when I’ve been rolling around all naked and you all naked I’ll be warmed up for the coupling.’

Matt grins at him. ‘It’s worth a try.’

Luke undresses, embarrassed to be embarrassed. ‘Is the wrestling seriously part of the… Sign of the Snake?’

‘Oh yes, fire is the element of passion after all. Invoking it through the Sign of the Snake should be a passionate business.’

Luke hesitantly holds his kerchief in his hand. ‘I just have to hold this up for three seconds?’

‘Up in the air, and I just have to stop you,’ Matt says, stepping forward.

They circle each other for a moment. ‘What if we roll into the flames?’

‘We won’t, it’s bespelled for safety.’

Luke suddenly thrusts the kerchief into the air and giggles. ‘One…’

Matt lunges forward, knocking him off his feet to land in the deep sand. Luke squeals and struggles to keep hold of the kerchief as he tries to squirm out of Matt’s grasp. Their legs slide together as they both kick wildly. Matt’s arms are close around Luke’s chest as Luke tries to shove against them. He stares into Matt’s laughing eyes for a moment before sliding free.

‘Bit overexcited,’ Luke admits, knowing that Matt has already seen, and felt, his erection.

‘All part of the fun,’ Matt assures him, and lunges for him.

They roll over and over, first left to right, and then right to left, changing course automatically as they approach the flames. Skin slides against skin, sweat pools with sweat, and their hearts hammer together.

Luke finds himself on top of Matt. ‘Why isn’t the sand sticking to us?’

‘Because it’d be incredibly uncomfortable.’

‘So it just doesn’t happen?’

Matt shrugs easily. ‘Sex mage.’

Luke shoves his hand into the air. ‘One… two…’

Matt rolls him over and pushes his hand down. ‘Uh uh, not that easily.’

‘I don’t need to win.’

Matt raises his eyebrows. ‘You don’t want the spell anymore?’

‘You said it’s for dominance, right?’ Luke wriggles pleasantly. ‘Being on top. I don’t gotta be on top do I?’

‘Not if you don’t want to be.’

Luke shakes his head. ‘I don’t. You do it.’

Matt stands up and offers Luke his hand. ‘It’s good you know your mind.’

‘Sometimes.’ Luke bites his lip as he tries not to stare at Matt’s heavy erection.

‘Try not to worry,’ Matt says, leading him to the bed. ‘It’s better to be relaxed. Would you lie down on your front?’

‘I can’t see your face through it?’

‘No, not for most of the signs,’ Matt says apologetically.

Luke lies down and rests his head on his folded arms. ‘Must get you down.’ Warm hands pass over his ass and between his legs in a gentle blur and he feels a tender, slight soreness.

Matt kneels over Luke, with a leg on either side of him. ‘This is my duty. What I do with lovers is the same as other people do with theirs.’

‘You have lovers then?’

‘Sometimes,’ Matt says quietly. ‘When you have the revelation don’t stand up at once. It can take people a while to recover.’

Luke nods, and concentrates on the scent of Matt’s skin, the soft words he’s now chanting, and the sensation of his thrusts.

The flames vanish and then reappear with a roar as they burn brightly. Luke throws back his head and gasps as light fills his world.



Peter smiles as Matt walks into the kitchen. ‘The meal is nearly ready to eat, Master.’

‘Thank you, Peter. I feel about ready to wilt!’ Matt sinks down into a chair and rubs his face.

‘How did the spell go?’

‘Fine, a bright lad that. It’ll be interesting to see where he chooses to take his life.’

Peter puts earthenware plates out on the table. ‘Was his revelation as he expected?’

Matt snorts. ‘He knew what it would be. I think sometimes people merely need the courage to face the truth.’

‘Would you like to face the food now?’

‘I would love to do so.’